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The Research & Collections Center houses collections that include artifacts, fossils, biologic specimens, works of art, records, and databases. The rocks, minerals, and fossil plants and animals, and their contemporary counterparts, permanently record the evolution of Illinois climates, landscapes, plants, and animals. Finely-crafted tools, ornaments, and works of art illustrate the rich cultural history from the cultures of the prehistoric American Indians who thrived in this region for over 10,000 years, to the early French explorers of the seventeenth century, to the settlers of the eighteenth and nineteenth centuries, to the culturally diverse societies of today.

The collections and educational resources in the RCC provide the basis for learning experiences that surpass those available in the traditional classroom and other formal settings. They permit first-hand observation of the tangible evidence for natural and cultural change and diversity. They are studied by students and scholars from a wide variety of disciplines.

Visits to the RCC must be prearranged. Please call to schedule a visit.

Public Programs are also held in the RCC, including Brown Bag lectures and the monthly Paul Mickey Science Series Lecture. Check the events list for dates and times.

Many of the Illinois State Museum's 13.8 million objects are housed at the Research and Collections Center in Springfield, Illinois. Geology, Anthropology, Zoology and Decorative Arts collections all are housed here. Join Dr. Michael Wiant, Interim Director of the Illinois State Museum, for a behind-the-scenes tour of this facility that is not normally open to the public. Video published on July 21, 2016.